Aikido Books Technique

Aikido Technique Books

I talked about collecting and studying Aikido books. I also talked about reading books that can help your inner game and having a good harmonious philosophy. We also talked about studying the art of strategy to help your budo and your martial art. Here is a list of good Aikido Technique Books.

Here are the Aikido Books that that shaped my Aikido Technique.

Traditional Aikido, Vol. 1: Basic Techniques

(v. 1) (Japanese and English Edition)(Japanese)Hardcover– July, 1974

by Morihiro Saito(Author) The first time I read this book was when I was 17 years old back in the early 1990s. I found it in a small library in one of Sydney’s suburbs. The five ‘Traditional Aikido’ books were written with the consideration that it will be used for actual practice. These series of books are ‘Traditional Aikido’ textbooks. The Aikido student learn from his or her sensei at the dojo. The Aikido student then goes home and study these Aikido books to commit the lesson in your memory. The Traditional Aikido Vol 1: Basic Techniques explains the fundamental relationship between the use of ken, jo and taijutsu.

Some of the Aikido Techniques in the this book:

Basic method of Aiki sword

The 7 Ken Suburi

How to hold the sword similarly how to grip uke

Basic ken partner practice

The principles of Irimi

The principles of kokyu nage

The mental attitude of sword taking (Tachi Dori)

and many more

Traditional Aikido (Vol 2) Advanced Techniques

(Japanese and English Edition)(Japanese)Hardcover– July 1, 1974

by Morihiro Saito(Author) I have three Aikido books in my Aikido bag that I always carry. This is one of those books. The ‘Traditional Aikido’ Vol 2 explains the application and variations of the basic kumitachi (partnered practice with swords) as developed by the founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba Osensei. In this Aikido book the concept of ‘Riai’ is expanded to include Kumijo (partnered practice with the staff).

(Japanese and English Edition)(Japanese)Hardcover– July 1, 1974

by Morihiro Saito(Author) ‘Traditional Aikido’ Vol 3 is about Aikido Techniques involving the use of the body. Aikido body techniques are almost unlimited and cannot be put in one book. In this book you will see the relationship between different Aikido techniques.

Some of the Aikido Techniques in the this book:

Body adaptations of the ‘principle of the sword’

Variations of Kokyu Ho (Breathing or abdominal extensions)

Variations of basic techniques

Ki Flow and Awase (blending)

Ushiro Waza

Modes of variations (henka waza)

Traditional Aikido: Vital Techniques v. 4

(Japanese and English Edition)(Japanese)Hardcover– December, 1974

by Morihiro Saito(Author) One of the best Aikido book covers I’ve ever seen. You can see Saito Sensei throwing my teacher Hitohira Saito Sensei over his shoulder. Volume 4 of the ‘Traditional Aikido’ series explores the vital Aikido techniques. In this book Saito Sensei shared his memory of the essential Aikido techniques that was not included in Vol 3.

Some of the Aikido Techniques in the this book:

‘Rigorous’ Aikido exercises

The use of Atemi before applying Aikido techniques

Kaeshi Waza or Counter Techniques

Variations against Tsuki

Variations against Shomen Uchi

Variations against Yokomen Uchi

Variations against Ushiro Dori

Traditional Aikido: Sword, Stick & Body Arts, Vol. 5

Training Works WondersHardcover– 1976

by M. Saito(Author) The cover of the this was also impressive. Saito Sensei is surrounded by six people all armed with swords. In the 5th Volume of the ‘Traditional Aikido’ book series, Saito Sensei talks about the sequence and methodology of Aikido training. The path to Aikido Mastery is Aikido training. Repetitive Aikido training. Saito Sensei wrote this book so the student that picks up this book won’t miss a step. Imagine this, if your train the same technique for three years you will inevitably learn it, it becomes second nature and a habit. What if you’ve been training the wrong technique. Then not only the three years was wasted, but also you have to deal with changing or correcting ingrained habits. Hence Saito Sensei felt like he owed Aikido this book to make sure the habit forming Aikido you will learn is correct and effective.

Some of the Aikido Techniques in the this book:

Identity of Aikido as a martial art

Correct Aikido training methods

Aikido Techniques (kihon, ki no nagare, ki tai)

Dealing with Multiple Attackers

In Aikido: The Complete Basic Techniques by Gozo Shioda

One the most renowned master and teacher as well as the top student of modern Aikido’s founder Morihei Ueshiba, offers lucid and detailed explanations of all of the most important basic Aikido techniques.

Shioda Sensei demonstrates how the ‘Basic Exercises’ that form the core teachings of Aikido. The exercises will help the Aikidoka develop physical focus.

Some of the things you may learn from this Aikido book:

Basic Exercises

The Basic Throws

A section on ‘practical application’

Ephasis on ‘defence over attack’ as a training strategy

Total Aikido: The Master CourseHardcover– November 16, 2012

I’ve purchased several Aikido and Martial Arts books in the past two decades. Let me say this as an Aikidoka, this book is one of my favourite books of all time. It is not easy to describe Aikido techniques in text. You need a proper illustration to follow photographic sequences to fundamentally appreciate the techniques. This book is a good photobook. They have numbered the photos in the sequences. The accompanying description and explanation are quite well written.

It should be said that this book was written by Gozo Shioda Sensei, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido. Yoshinkan is a style that your local dojo may or may not practice. However, I find myself continually coming back to this book to check out how Shioda Sensei would do Good Aikido. This book sits is one my favourite Aikido Books.

Tomiki Aikido (Randori and Koryu no Kata)

by Lee Ah Loi (1997-09-03)

The first Aikido school I went to of which I reached the rank of ikkyu was Shodokan Aikido. I believe this my first Aikido Book.

It has the first 17 and talks about Randori and the Koryu. If you are a sports Aikidoka and want quickly learn the 17 to sharpen you randori this your Aikido book.

Atemi: The Thunder and Lightning of Aikido

The book revisits the source of the art by teaching the striking methods that made Ueshiba’s techniques so effective.

This is one of the most comprehensive text on striking in Aikido. It begins with the notion that strikes should not be disregarded in modern dojo.

It explores the common notion of atemi as a secondary aspect of Aikido. The book’s message is Osensei Aikido has striking in its very core.

The authors describe through brilliant and specific examples and clear photographs, how atemi is used in Aikido pins and throws while still keeping with the physical philosophy of the art. The journey continues as they then demonstrate how Ueshiba Morihei Osensei and some of his most important students viewed atemi and technique as one, instead of separate aspects of the art.

The final chapters suggest ways that Osensei taught his students how to develop internal power, which can be channeled into Aikido’s powerful strikes.

This Aikido book is combat oriented. I like it. It is one of my favourite Aikido books in my collection.

Iwama Shinshin Aikido BASIC TECHNIQUE Vol. 1

by Hitohira Saito Sensei

Hitohira Saito Sensei became my Sensei when I went to Iwama Japan as an Uchideshi. The irony is my Sensei here in Sydney Mic Marelli gave me this book. It is one of the three books I carry in my Aikido bag.

The book was made in good detail. Something we can expect of Saito Sensei. Everything in life has aesthetic detail even book making.

The book has 56 chapters. All the chapters are Aikido lessons. The last chapters are bukiwaza. In this book Hitohira Saito Sensei laid the foundation to the ‘New Testament’ of Iwama Aikido.

Aikido Fondamental 1 : tech base n.e

By Christian Tissier Sensei

I can’t speak nor read French so I can’t really talk about the text. I was only guessing the messages and occasionally googling what they meant. I do that too with Japanese and Spanish it works.

I do want to talk about the illustrations and photos. They were good and detailed. What I love about Tissier Sensei is his Good Aikido. Tissier Sensei’s Aikido is smooth, precise, the timing is amazing and very powerfully.